As you'll conclude from the brief journal notations I offer below, holes in the ground cast a peculiar sort of spell over some folk, enticing them to come hither. Reluctance alone, therefore, motivated my deference in declining last week's invitation to again explore Corkscrew Cave.
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(5/30/93) We searched for Corkscrew Cave near Kyles Landing on the Buffalo River. Even after breaking into two search teams, its location eluded us.
We did find Copperhead Cave, which required a 20-foot rappel at the entrance. Because of the rain, much of our incursion on hands and knees was through 50-degree water, sometimes chest deep. We probably went back a few thousand feet, but I felt especially good after the exercise and cold water.
(7/25/93) This past week on the Buffalo River has been rugged! We drove to Kyles Landing and made several half-mile round-trip portages to our campsite. Here's what we did each day:
Monday. Drive to Kyles, "pack mule" gear into campsite, set up camp, eat supper, and swim after dark.
Tuesday. Hike up Indian Creek in search of Arkansas Cave. Locate cave, but can't enter because it's closed for bat hibernation. Climb rocks and scout the area. Get soaked in a big rainstorm. Return to camp and swim.
Wednesday. Swim in morning, rappel in afternoon. Hard, driving rain (5 inches in Russellville) begins about 11:30 p.m. Tremendous electrical storm. Rain lasts until 5:00 a.m. Some tents take on water.
Thursday. Drive to Cave Mountain Cave and follow another group in. Crawl through the "jet hole" passage, which is tight, wet, and treacherous. Climb out by 25-foot rope ladder. Very dirty and muddy.
Friday. Search for Corkscrew Cave again and finally locate it in extremely rugged terrain. Cave appears too dangerous to enter without better gear, so we defer.
Saturday. Pack up camp, portage gear to cars, swim, eat lunch, swim, and leave.
It has been a good week. I had no pain and am slowly losing the tenderness in my chest. The physical exertion was good for me.
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Almost 50 then, residual chest pain from what I had first supposed to be a heart attack just two weeks earlier had not fully subsided. Though my doctor had ruled out the heart, fatiguing exertion was not exactly what I wanted, but what I needed.
We eventually explored Corkscrew Cave a year later. Descending vertically into the earth in corkscrew spirals, navigation required agility and upper body strength.
Slow recuperation from a knee injury has thwarted outdoor activity for almost four years, tingeing the decision to forego this opportunity with genuine disappointment. I wanted to go, but didn't need to.
But come the cool and crisp October, with leaves just beginning to fall, I hope to initiate another Buffalo River foray, perhaps one more suited to my particular phase of life.
And may I come to understand that contentment occurs when my "want to's" and "need to's" gracefully, willingly meet–and stroll together hand in hand.
Copyright 2003 James McAlister
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